What has he done wrong?
K.C. Johnson
Chicago Tribune
Jim Boeheim's only crime thus far is one of ignorance — and arrogance. Unless it comes out that he had direct knowledge of Bernie Fine's lifestyle, he should keep his jobs with Syracuse and the U.S. Olympic team. Boeheim's initial condescending reaction to allegations against Fine runs consistent with the holier-than-thou attitude of many major college coaches, but he since has apologized for those remarks.
That doesn't excuse his comments. But they also shouldn't excuse Boeheim from a job he is qualified to perform. He claims he had no knowledge of Fine's actions. So what, exactly, did Boeheim do wrong?
Granted, the men's team can win gold in London without Boeheim. But any punishment doesn't fit his crime.
Too soon to judge
Barry Stavro
Los Angeles Times
Yes.
Why? There is a significant difference in the alleged child molestation cases at Penn State and Syracuse.
Joe Paterno was told long ago that Jerry Sandusky had acted inappropriately, and Paterno's response was, pick one: half-hearted, buck-passing, ignorant, irresponsible, criminal.
As for Boeheim, he can only be blamed — at the moment — for a flippant response when the initial news reports surfaced of Bernie Fine's alleged child molestation. There is no evidence right now that Boeheim knew of, or covered up, Fine's behavior.
We only know fragments of what happened in the Syracuse scandal and of Boeheim's role. Let's see what the investigation turns up before blaming him.
Monitor case closely
Brian Schmitz
Orlando Sentinel
As long as Jim Boeheim is in good standing with Syracuse, he should be in good standing with Team USA as an assistant coach.
The U.S. Olympic committee insists Boeheim will continue as an assistant coach but is monitoring the Bernie Fine investigation, which it should.
So far, Syracuse has backed Boeheim, who insists he knew nothing of Fine's alleged actions. Boeheim made some insensitive comments while defending Fine, his longtime friend, and since has apologized.
If the dots between Fine, Boeheim and alleged victims are connected, then Syracuse will follow the Penn State playbook and fire Boeheim. The U.S. team then would have no choice but to follow suit.
He's in clear — for now
David Hyde
Sun Sentinel
Jim Boeheim isn't Joe Paterno.
At least as of today. As far as we know. And this is the real question regarding if he should be coaching the U.S. Olympic basketball team.
Unlike Paterno, Boeheim didn't have an alleged eyewitness account of his assistant's sexual abuse of a boy. Unlike Paterno, Boeheim didn't know anything to discuss with his athletic director and university president.
From all he has said, Boeheim sounds as duped as anyone that an assistant he coached with for three decades lived this dark secret. That doesn't mean there won't be consequences for him.
But until and unless it comes out Boeheim knew something and did nothing, one of those consequences shouldn't be losing a job.